(Asia Literary Review) By Michael Breen et al

Asia Literary Review, an English-language quarterly journal distributed globally, has dedicated its Spring 2012 issue to Korean literature.

“Koreans are rightly proud of their unique culture and their literary heritage; they respect and appreciate their writers and poets,” wrote Ilyas Khan, the journal’s publisher.

“And if any place could be described as a country of readers, it would be South Korea. Their writers, however, have yet to be discovered by English-language readers in the way their counterparts from Japan and China have been. This is now changing, as is evident from the award of the 2012 Man Asian Prize to Shin Kyung-sook.”

And indeed, one of the highlights of this Korea-themed edition is its interview with Shin Kyung-sook, by Korean-literature expert Charles Montgomery. Shin came into the international spotlight when her novel “Please Look after Mom” became a best-seller in the U.S. following its release in April 2011. The book, which follows the painful journey of a family searching for their missing mother, sold more than 100,000 copies in the U.S. within the first few days of its release there.

“A mother is a complex entity,” Shin tells Montgomery in the interview.

“Her nature cannot be fully grasped, regardless of who describes her. Even when exploring her character in the context of her relationship with her husband, she cannot be completely portrayed. The multiple narratives (in Please Look after Mom) allow each character to give a personal account of Mother, and she can also talk about herself.”

The edition also contains English-translated versions of shorts from some of the most talented contemporary Korean writers ― “Ice Cream” by Kim Young-ha, “What You Never Know” by Jeong I-hyeon, and “Is That So? I’m a Giraffe” by Park Min-gyu. “Black-and-White Photographer” by writer Han Yu-joo, who is known for her unconventional literary technique and style, is also a must-read.

Readers will also be introduced to renowned living poet Ko Un’s poetry, from his collection titled “First Person Sorrowful.”

Meanwhile, Kathleen Hwang interviews former New York Times and the Washington Post writer Blain Harden, who in March published “Escape from Camp 14,”a book which chronicles the remarkable journey of real-life North Korean defector Shin Dong-hyuk. Shin was born and raised in a North Korean prison camp, and escaped the communist country in 2005 at the age of 24.

“I think Shin’s story would force every thinking South Korean to examine his or her conscience,” Harden tells Hwang in the interview.

“And reflect on Seoul’s responsibility to pay close attention and perhaps hasten the end of this human rights nightmare.”

Daniel Levitsky, who teaches modern Russian history and film at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, writes an interesting overview on North Korea’s propaganda cinema.

The edition offers a lot for English-language readers, comprising fiction, poetry, reviews and interviews that dig deep into the triumphs and future of Korean literature on the world stage.

(dyc@heraldcorp.com)